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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Book Review: 13 to Life

Heyhihello

Today I review a book titled 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

Description of the book:

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

My review:

I heard really great stuff about this book. Everyone said it was great…very unique.

When I started reading this book, I didn’t feel a connection with the main character. I felt she was one of those who would keep talking and talking, non-stop. The author tried to show the love between the main character, Jess, and Pietr wasn’t a love from first sight but to me it was. The realism concept was missing from this book (I don’t even know if such term exist…realism, I mean). The book wasn’t engaging at all. I found myself skipping and not really focusing on what I was reading.

Personally, for me to be able to like the main character is very important to like the whole book…so I liked neither the main character nor the book. But that doesn’t mean that Shannon writing wasn’t great. In fact it was really good. It was very simple to understand and digest.

Also, one of the things I didn’t like about this book is the fact that it used so many literature references. And I could list them for you but I'd rather you go read the book and pick up at least 2 literature references.

Again, I am not saying this book was bad… it just wasn’t for me. If you searched it on goodreads.com, you will see people giving it 4 and 5 stars.